Thursday 21 January - Where is the wind?

Thursday 21 January - Where is the wind?
Got a slow start this morning. 0.2 knots. That is slow. Drifting around in circles. Then a rain shower came with its associated increase in wind. Wind increased to about five knots. But then it slowly increased. I went through all the drills of dropping the pole, putting up the drifter, full mainsail, and about 10:00 we were ailing about 3 knots. Then 4 knots. And at noon I announced to myself that we were out of the doldrums and into steady wind. We sailed along at ab out 5.5 knots and I was planning all those wonderful things I am going to do when we get there. Now, at 15:00 the boat speed is back down in the 2's, sails flogging.
This morning at 09:00 I had been on this passage two days. I was 190 miles from USVI and 212 miles to Turks. I hope the average increases. My destination is Provo, Caicos, about 60 miles farther along. I can make it Saturday if: If the wind picks up, and if the weather holds off until Sunday Morning.
A few years ago Normandie and her mother, Marjorie, took a vacation to Caicos, and I took Advent down to meet them. Normandie came a week before Marjorie and she stayed on the boat. One of the best kiteboarding beaches in the world is Long Bay, Caicos. Of course we spent every windy day on the water. I anchored at the west end of the island at a place called Sapodilla Bay. If everything works right I will be able to sail right up to the anchorage.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II